Reflection signs and markers

ABSTRACT

Signs having indicia-shaped apertures in an outer framework exposing through the apertures reflective cores recessed within the framework; textured surfaces on the reflective cores provide multi-directional reflectivity contrasting with the outer framework.

United States Patent Thomas [54] REFLECTION SIGNS AND MARKERS [72] Inventor: Floyd ONeill Thomas, 2316 Hal-croft Road, Timonium, Md.

[22] Filed: Aug. 4, 1969 211 App]. N0.: 847,206

52 us. a. ..40/135, 40/133 R 51- -.ooor 7/100 [58] Field ofSearch ..40/l30 K, 135, 136, 133

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,681,524 6/1954 Neugass ..40/l30 K [451 Mar. 28, 1972 Dibblee ..40/l 30 K Sullivan ..40/130 K Primary Examiner-Robert W. Michell Assistant Examiner-Wenceslao J. Contreras Attorney-John F. McClellan, Sr.

[5 7] ABSTRACT Signs having indicia-shaped apertures in an outer framework exposing through the apertures reflective cores recessed within the framework; textured surfaces on the reflective cores provide multi-directional reflectivity contrasting with the outer framework.

4 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures Patented March 28, 1972 3,651,590

FIGURE 3 FIGURE 2 13 23 INVENTOR FLOYD o. THOMAS 22 FIGURE 4 REFLECTION SIGNS AND MARKERS This invention relates in general to signs and markers. More particularly, this invention relates to plastic molded signs which have in their framework openings shaped to create lettering through ommissions in that framework, and which in the interior of their framework have materials which are revealed by the openings and yield contrasting or reflective effects in the lettered areas.

It is an object of this invention to utilize the newly developed structural foam injection molding process to encapsulate the contrasting or reflective materials at the same time that the mounting bracket and sign frame and sign body and letter openings are integrally molded.

It is a further object of this invention to provide several methods of reflectively contrasting the exposed letter areas.

It is a further object-of this invention to provide for molding by conventional means two halves of an integrally molded bracket, frame and letter sign which could be fastened together in such a way as to encapsulate the reflective sandwich material. The foregoing is to be taken as a brief summary of the invention as well as a statement of the objects of the invention. I

Other objects and a fuller understanding of this invention may be had by referring to, the following description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: I

FIG. 1 is a face view of an embodiment of this invention showing that the bracket and entire outside of the sign is molded in one piece around the contrasting or reflective core of the sign.

FIG. 2 is a cut-away view of an embodiment of this invention showing both the approximate structure of the structural foam plastic sign frame and one configuration of a two piece reflective-sandwich core.

FIG. 3 is a cross section of an embodiment of this invention showing sequential 30, 45 and 70 reflective planes which is one of a number of possible arrangements which will yield a satisfactory proportion of reflective surfaces in optimum reflecting position from many angles of approach.

FIG. 4 is a cut-away perspective view of an alternate method of molding in which a front half and a back half of the sign is molded in conventional manner and assembled around the further type of reflective sandwich core.

Referring now to the detail of the drawings, FIG. 1 is a face view of an embodiment of this invention showing that the structural foam mounting bracket 6 is continuous in its internal foam and extema] skin structure with the top of the sign frame 7 and with the bottom of the sign frame 8 and with the extreme end of the sign frame 9 and with the stencil-like front surface 10, which front surface covers all of both sides of reflective sandwich encapsulated inside the foam structure 12 and obscured by it except in the areas 11, which are openings formed to constitute the letters of the sign.

The new structural plastic foam-type molding process lends itself to the molding of thick continuous differential cross sections which are one characteristic of this invention. This structural plastic foam-type molding process introduces the stateof-the-arts which is required for this invention in that the process lends itself to low molding pressures, inexpensive aluminum or plastic molds, and the tendency in the foaming process to produce a hard thick skin which will surround and retain the reflective sandwich material without flashing down in between its members.

FIG. 2 is a cut-away view of an embodiment of this invention showing the cross section of the structural plastic foam 12 in the area of the extreme end of the sign 9, showing also the clear plastic front sheet 13 of the reflective sandwich, the clear plastic back sheet 14 of the reflective sandwich, and its textured metallized inner surface 15. Vacuum deposition of aluminum on both inner textured surfaces would produce one method of achieving a multi-directional reflective surface.

FIG. 3 is a cross section of an embodiment of this invention showing the clear inner textured surface 16 of the clear from sheet 13 and the clear inner textured surface 17 of the clear rear sheet 14 as these two surfaces could press against and encapsulating two polished reflecting surfaces 18 and 19 producing another possible type of reflective sandwich.

FIG. 4 is a cut-away perspective view of an embodiment of this invention showing the sign frame front as it could be conventionally molded in two halves 20 and 21 (at a much higher tooling cost) and fastened together by standard fastening means 22. This two piece sign frame is shown capturing a still further type of reflective sandwich in which clear plastic sheets 13 and 14 have both front and rear surfaces clear and untextured and act only to support and expose a standard glass-bead reflecting member 23.

The plastic molded signs which have been described herein and detailed on the drawings are ideally suited for street sign applications in that the letters are strongly and accurately contrasting or reflective; in that the sign structure gives these letters long-term protection from the elements; and in that the integral bracket lends itself both to ease of installation and long life.

Having thus described my invention, I claim;

1. A plastic molded sign comprising an outer framework defining an indicium in the form of an opening in the framework, and a reflective core encased within the framework with a portion of the reflective core revealed recessed within the framework through said opening, the reflective core comprising a plastic construction encasing a textured reflective insert, at least a portion of the plastic construction adjacent said opening being clear for thereby exposing to view the reflective core.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein the plastic construction clear portion encasing the textured reflective insert includes a sheet portion which is smooth on the outside surface but textured on the inside surface in conformance with the textured reflective insert.

3. The invention of claim 2 wherein the reflective core includes a clear plastic sheet having a textured surface and a metallic film on said textured surface.

4. The invention of claim 1 wherein the plastic construction clear portion encasing the patterned reflective insert comprises a pair of plastic sheets which are smooth on both sides, and wherein the reflective insert comprises a glass-bead reflective member supported between the pair of plastic sheets. 

1. A plastic molded sign comprising an outer framework defining an indicium in the form of an opening in the framework, and a reflective core encased within the framework with a portion of the reflective core revealed recessed within the framework through said opening, the reflective core comprising a plastic construction encasing a textured reflective insert, at least a portion of the plastic construction adjacent said opening being clear for thereby exposing to view the reflective core.
 2. The invention of claim 1 wherein the plastic construction clear portion encasing the textured reflective insert includes a sheet portion which is smooth on the outside surface but textured on the inside surface in conformance with the textured reflective insert.
 3. The invention of claim 2 wherein the reflective core includes a clear plastic sheet having a textured surface and a metallic film on said textured surface.
 4. The invention of claim 1 wherein the plastic construction clear portion encasing the patterned reflective insert comprises a pair of plastic sheets which are smooth on both sides, and wherein the reflective insert comprises a glass-bead reflective member supported between the pair of plastic sheets. 